In the 1980s, comedy movies were a booming industry. Comedy films were making a lot of money in the box office, and it was the decade where comedies started to become more mainstream and more popular. There were many great comedy films that were released in the 80s in the 80s, but there are also some that you may not have heard of.
The following list is for the best Comedy movies in the 1980s:
Heaven Help Us (1985)
Heaven Help Us is a 1985 comedy film directed by Michael Dinner. The film stars John Candy, Catherine O’Hara, Robert Loggia, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. The film is about a group of nuns who find themselves in the middle of a crime war. The film received mixed reviews from critics. Heaven Help Us was not a box office success. However, it has developed a small cult following over the years.
Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985)
Pee-wee’s Big Adventure is a 1985 comedy film directed by Tim Burton. The film stars Paul Reubens, Elizabeth Daily, and Mark Holton. The film is about Pee-Wee Herman who searches for his missing bicycle which is stolen by criminal gangs. Pee-wee’s Big Adventure was a critical and commercial success upon its release and received positive reviews from critics. The film also became one of the most iconic films of the 80s thanks to its many memorable moments.
Three Amigos! (1986)
Three Amigos! is a 1986 comedy film directed by John Landis. The film stars Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, and Martin Short. The film follows three actors who become mistaken for heroes in Mexico when they are mistaken for real heroes in Mexican films because they have their costumes with them when they travel to Mexico to visit their friend, who works as a guide in Mexico. Three Amigos! was not a box office success, but it was fairly well received by critics. The film has become quite popular among many fans of comedy films since its release.
The Great Outdoors (1988)
The Great Outdoors is a 1988 comedy film directed by Howard Deutch. The film stars Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, and Jamie Lee Curtis. The film follows the Griswold family who spend their vacation in a family cabin in the wilderness led by the husband, Chet Griswold played by John Candy, who tries to make the vacation fun for his family. The Great Outdoors was not a box office success upon its release in 1988, but it has developed a cult following over the years thanks to its many memorable moments and quotable lines.
Caddyshack (1980)
Caddyshack is a 1980 comedy film directed by Harold Ramis and written by Brian Doyle-Murray and Harold Ramis. The film stars Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Knight, Michael O’Keefe, and Nancy Davis as his wife Linda Cardellini as his daughter). The film follows Danny Noonan played by Michael O’Keefe who works at a country club where he gets caught up with the two owners, Judge Elihu Smails played by Ted Knight and Al Czervik played by Rodney Dangerfield who have their own rivalry. Caddyshack was a box office success upon its release and received mostly positive reviews from critics. The film has developed a cult following over the years thanks to its many memorable moments and quotable lines.
Ghostbusters (1984)
Ghostbusters is a 1984 comedy film directed by Ivan Reitman. The film stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, Rick Moranis, and Annie Potts as their secretary Janine Melnitz. The film follows three eccentric scientists who go into business catching ghosts. Ghostbusters was not only a box office success when it was released in 1984 but also received mostly positive reviews from critics and has become one of the most iconic films of the 1980s thanks to its many memorable moments and quotable lines.
Top Secret! (1984)
Top Secret! is a 1984 comedy film directed by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker. The film stars Val Kilmer as Nick Rivers, who goes on a trip to East Germany where he gets involved in a mission to retrieve a tape which could be used for mind control. The film was not a box office success, but it has developed quite the following over the years thanks to its many memorable moments and quotable lines.
The ’Burbs (1989)
The ’Burbs is a 1989 comedy film directed by Joe Dante. The film stars Tom Hanks, Bruce Dern, Carrie Fisher, and Corey Feldman. The film follows an ordinary man who thinks his neighbor are up to no good and decides to investigate with his friends when his neighbor seem suspicious after the death of their elderly neighbor. The ’Burbs was not a box office success upon its release in 1989, but it received mostly positive reviews from critics and has developed quite the following among fans of comedy films since its release.
This is Spinal Tap (1984)
This is Spinal Tap is a 1984 comedy film directed by Rob Reiner. The film stars Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, and Tony Hendra. The film follows the fictional British heavy metal band Spinal Tap as they go on tour in America. This is Spinal Tap was not a box office success upon its release in 1984, but it has developed quite the following over the years thanks to its many memorable moments and quotable lines.
Coming to America (1988)
Coming to America is a 1988 comedy film directed by John Landis. The film stars Eddie Murphy as African Prince Akeem who decides to travel to New York City and live with his real father who sells shoes in Harlem. Coming to America was not only a box office success when it was released in 1988 but also received mostly positive reviews from critics. The film has become one of Murphy’s most iconic films thanks to its many memorable moments and quotable lines.
